AFC West blog

Seymour is expected to fly to Oakland as early as Saturday and arrive in time to play Monday night's game against the San Diego Chargers.

Oakland did not give Seymour a new contract or a promise not to slap its franchise tag on him after this season. But Seymour will not risk losing any of this year's $3.685 million base salary and he will be that much closer to free agency in a potentially uncapped year in 2010.

The news puts an end to a situation that had gone on for nearly a week and seemed as if it could last longer.

Oakland traded a 2011 first-round pick to New England last Sunday for Seymour. Then, after a week in which Seymour did not report, the Raiders sent him a five-day letter, giving him five days to report or risk being suspended. Oakland also removed him from its roster and signed defensive tackle William Joseph.

But executives around the league believed Seymour's best option was to report to the Raiders, begin collecting his $3.685 million salary and work off the last year of his contract.

Barring an unexpected breakdown, Seymour will become a Raider this weekend and be on the field Monday night.